Alex Porter announces retirement from cycling a year after horror crash at Tokyo

Alex Porter – a candidate for the unluckiest athlete at the Tokyo Olympics – has retired from cycling.

The Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist says he is putting his health first.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Alex Porter announces retirement.

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The 26-year-old Adelaide cyclist was a key member of the team pursuit squad and the hope had been he would return as they seek redemption at the 2024 Paris Games.

Porter’s handlebar dramatically snapped off early in Australia’s qualifying ride for the team pursuit at Tokyo.

He face-planted into the wooden track at about 60km/h and suffered significant injuries, with Luke Plapp replacing him in the line-up.

Watch the horror crash below.

Australia rallied to win a bronze medal, but Porter’s stunning accident cost them any chance of contending for a gold medal.

The disastrous equipment failure prompted an independent investigation, which found that the faulty part was not tested properly.

AusCycling apologised for the malfunction, which came to symbolise the track team’s poor performance in Tokyo.

The team pursuit bronze was their only medal, Australia’s worst performance on the track at an Olympics since the 1980 Moscow Games.

Porter said in a statement on Friday that his decision had been difficult.

“In what has been the toughest decision of my life, I have decided to retire from professional cycling,’‘ Porter said.

“After the Tokyo Olympics, it is clear I need to put my health first and this means stepping away from the sport.

“I have been cycling since I was a teenager, it has shaped me into the person I am today, and I am grateful for all the joy it has brought to my life.”

Porter was also a member of the team pursuit lineup that broke the world record at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and won gold.

AusCycling chief executive Marnie Fechner said Porter would remain involved in the sport as an ambassador for the organisation.

– AAP